Island



June 11, 1929. r c, MOON 1,717,165

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed July 3, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTQR ZWZ ATTORNEY June 1 1, 1929. c, MOON I 1,717,165

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed July 3, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY June 11, 1929. c. G. MOON 1,717,165

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed July 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Patented June 11, 1929.

CLIFFORD MOON; OF ANTHONY, RHODE ISLAND.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Application filed July 3,

My invention relates to a feeler mechanism for the filling replenishing type of looms, and is purposed to indicate impending filling exhaustion and to set into operation the filling replenishment mechanism. I

An object of my invention is to provide a filling mechanism adapted for use upon cops or bobbins carrying a finer or more delicate yarn or filament than has hitherto been practicable. Heretofore the resistance of the feel er to the beat of the lay has been excessive except upon coarse yarn which is stronger, and which receives less blows or beats than a fine filament which is, because of its relatively slow discharge from the bobbin, subjected for a longer periodto the blows. A heavy beat upon an artificial silk filament so marks the latter as tozbe: visible after the dyeing. It is equally-essential in'a fine, yarn manipulation that no serrations upon the feeler contact therewith. Further objects of my invention are to insure instant and accurate operation of the device regardless of the accurate placing or boxing of the cop; to avoid the waste of material and labor incident to injury of the yarn or filament occasioned by the mechanism heretofore employed; to make the mechanism responsive to a sensitive or delicate impulse; to. insure increased speed of operation; to facilitate the adjustment of the actuator; and to attain these objects in a simple and inexpensive structure.

To the above ends essentially my invention consists in such partsand in such combina-' tions of parts" as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification V Figure 1 is a perspective view of myfeeler mechanism showin broken away, P r

Figures 2 and 3, a top plan view and a front elevation respectively of my mechanism, the frame cover being omitted in Figure 2,

-Figures 1 and 5, fragmentary sections of the same online 14L and 5--5 respectively .of Figure 2, r Figures 6, v7 and 8, sections of-my mechanisin and of a shuttle,and of a bobbin diagrammatically displayed, taken on line ,6.6 of Figure 3 showing three different positions ofthe 'feeler, and I Figures Qan d 10, sections v f my mechaowing a portion of its support 7 ,one end with a guide loop 12, and near its 1928. Serial No. 290,141.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the views.

In the drawings 15 represents one end of the. breast beam or frame of an ordinary loom of the filling replenishing type. 16 is one of two end brackets in which is journaled the rock shaft 17 connected with the shuttle The extension is provided along its forward lateral edge with a bevel 25 constituting a knife edge.- A' horizontal bearing extension 27 integral with an intermediate portion of the plate 21 has upon its free end a depending cam block 28 provided with an upwardly and rearwardly inclined operating face 29 terminating in the plane of the top of the extension 27. Vertical guide lugs 31 and 32 spaced from each other upon the top of the block 28 form a guideway 33. A pivot pin 3l fixed in the lug 32 and plate 21 passes loosely through a transverse hole 35in one end of the shank 36 of a gravity catch represented generally by 37. An up right head 38 upon the free forward end of the arm 37 is provided in its rear face with a beveled recess 39 adapted under certain circumstances to receive knife edge 25 of the follower extension 24:. A transmission rod 41 '1SPIOV1ClGCl nea portion 16 rests the shank of the catch 37 .Which is elevated by the upward travel of the shoulder44 upon the cam block'28 whenever the rod 41 is longitudinally impelled. he end at the breast beam 15 iisientr to t is attached by a bolt 50 a bracket 52 upon which is attached by a bolt 54 a rectangular block or frame 56, provided centrally with a transversely disposed cut away portion 57 in its top forming parallel flat shoulders 60 and 61 upon the front and back margins. A cover or retaining plate 62 is fixed by a screw 63 to the block. Near one end of the shoulder portion 60 of the block, as shown in Figure 2, is a transverse bore or hole 65, near its center, a similar hole 66; and near its other end, a transverse slot 67. In the shoulder 61 opposite the hole 66 and slot 67 respectively are a hole 68 and a slot 69. Communicating with the slot 69, as shown in Figure 9, is a hole 71 disposed at right angles thereto. Integral with the frame at opposite sides of the hole 71 are guide lugs 73 between which slides the loop 42 of the rod 41, and which cooperate with the loop to maintain the portion 43 of the rod in vertical position.

A feeler member, indicated in a general way by 75, is bent up from a length of wire, and includes a rod or shank 76, slidably mounted inthe holes 68 and 66, a head 77 upon its rear end, a vertical loop 78 upon its forward end, merging in a horizontal loop 79 adjacent thereto, and a terminal stop finger '80 slidable in the hole '65 parallel with the shank 68, and adapted to abut against the shoulder 61. The member is continually rearwardly pressed by virtue of a helical spring 81 attached atone end to the loop 78, and at its other end to a vertical pin 82 in the rear portion of the frame member 62.

An actuator member 83, also bent up from a length of wire, comprises an arm section 84 passing loosely through the slots 67 and 69 provided with a laterally inclined rear portion 85 terminating in a vertical finger 86; a horizontal lateral loop 87 upon the front end of the arm continuous with anarm section 88 disposed at substantially right angles to the first arm section; and a rear wardly directed vertical terminal loop 89 loosely engaging the loop 79 constituting a universal joint. The arm .se'ction 84is normally in contact with the end ofthe rod 41. The slots 67 and 69 are of sufficient amplitude to permit the member 83 to swing laterally a limited distance. i r

In the drawings 91 is a shuttle carried in the usual manner by the loom'lay, not herein shown, provided with a lateral slot 93 through which the feeler head 77 has access, as the lay reciprocates, to the filling 95 on the cop or bobbin spindle 96. In Figures 6 and 7 the shuttle is shown with a fully loaded spindle in a rearward and forwardposition respectively of the lay. In Figure 8 the position of the operative parts is shown at the instant of practical exhaustion of. the filling. a V p In operation the feeler head 77 contacts This movement impels the rod 41 to the right from the position shown in Figure 9 to that shown in Figure 10, whereby the catch 37 is elevated to bring the recess 39 of 1ts head 38 into the path of the edge 25 of the cam follower extension 24, which in its forward reciprocation registers 1n the recess. and forwardly impels the carrier plate 21, and thus operates the refilling mechanism.

The rearward reciprocation of the follower extension 24 releases the catch 37 which falls by gravity upon and depresses the end 46 ofthe rod 41 which thereby returns the member 83 to original position.

The contact finger 86 is adjustable towards andfrom the-shuttle by means of compressing or expanding the loop 87.

It will be noted that the lateral movement of the actuating member is free and unimpeded by any spring attached thereto, or by any other impediment. That pivoted action is facilitated by the interlocking loops 79 and 89.

I claim 1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, a feeler block,a feeler member slidable transversely of the block at right angles to the path of a shuttle comprising a shank, a smooth triangular head uponthe rear end of the shank, a horizontal loop upon the front end of the shank, and a stop finger integral with the loop parallel with the shank, a laterally movable actuator arm impellable by contact with a shuttle upon a detecting beat of the feeler head comprising a rear section including a rearwardly directed laterally inclined rear portion, a vertical finger upon the end of the rear portion, a second arm section disposed at substantially right angles to the first section, and a loop upon the end of the second section loosely engaging the horizontal loop, and a transmission rod upon the support in the path of the first section of the actuator arm. I

l 2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, a feeler support comprising a rectangular block, vertical flat shoulders parallel with each other upon the front and back of the block provided with aligned transversely disposed holes and with aligned transversely disposed slots spaced from the holes, and a cover upon the shoulders, a pin upon the rear portion of the cover, a feeler member comprising a shank slidable in the block in the holes, a head upon the rear end of the shank, a vertical loop upon the rear end of the shank in transtion slidable in the slots and including a latorally inclined rear portion, a vertically disposed contact finger upon the rear portion of the arm section, a horizontal adjusting loop upon the front end of the arm section, a second arm section disposed in front of the block continuous with the adjusting loop, and a vertical loop upon the second arm section loosely engaging the horizontal lateral loop, a spring connecting the first mentioned vertical loop and the pin, and a transmission rod slidably mounted in the block in the path of the rear section of the actuator arm.

3. In a feeler mechanism for weft replenishing looms, a feeler supporting block, a feeler member slidably mounted in the block,

an actuator arm slidably mounted and laterally movable in the block pivotally attached to the feeler member, a slidably reciprocating actuator plate, a vibratory cam follower movable longitudinally of the plate, a gravity latch pivoted to the side of the plate and movable into the path of the cam follower, a cam block fast to the side of the plate below the latch provided With an upwardly inclined cam face, a transmission rod slidably supported at one end in the block in the path of the actuator arm and longitudinally movable thereby and supported at its other end by the cam block in contact with the bottom of the latch, and a vertical shoulder upon the rod movable upon the cam face to elevate the catch when the rod is impelled by the actuator arm.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

CLIFFORD G. MOON. 

